India, as the history tells us, has seen numerous prehistoric settlements & societies on the banks of the many rivers that feed the vast lands of the subcontinent. And while there some spectacular caves in India dating back to as early as 6000 BC, historians & archaelogists have been able to find ancient lost cities only as old as 3700 BC. Some of these ancient cities in India gave to the world the earliest planned settlements and the religions of Hinduism, Jainism, & Buddhism.

While not all have been discovered, many lost cities in India have been found & excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India. Here’s a list of some of them.

Ancient Hidden Cities In North India

1. Rakhigarhi

Pre-dating most of the famous cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Rakhigarhi is one of the oldest and one of the largest settlements of that era. However – much like other cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro – paved roads, drainage system, large rainwater collection systems, storage system, terracotta bricks, statue production, and skilled application of bronze & precious metals were found at the excavated site.

Location: Hisar, Haryana

Established in: 4600 BC

Abandoned in: 1900 BC

Discovered in: 1965 AD

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2. Kalibangan

B. B. Lal, erstwhile DG of Archaeological Survey of India, stated: “Kalibangan in Rajasthan has given the evidence of the earliest ploughed agricultural field ever revealed through an excavation.” And then there are unique fire altars here that make it so important.

Location: Hanumangarh, Rajasthan

Established in: 3700 BC

Abandoned in: 1750 BC

Discovered in: 1919 AD; by Luigi Pio Tessitori, an Italian Indologist, who was working on Ram Charit Manas by Tulsidas

Ancient Hidden Cities In Gujarat

3. Lothal

Lothal ranks high in the list of the lost cities of India belonging to the Indus Valley civilisation that were discovered and excavated. Though floods wiped off the town during that time, structures like wells, dwarfed walls, baths, drains, and paved floors can still be seen. This shows how strong the structures were even during that time.

4. Dholavira

A favorite of the archaeologists, Dholavira is one of the lost Indian cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The excavated site includes reservoirs, step well, and various other antiquities such as seals, beads, animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta ornaments, & vessels. Excavations here also brought light to the the well-planned designs and organised constructions during those times.

5. Surkotada

Another lost city of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Surkotada was discovered in 1964. The ancient mounds and ruins here are hidden by sandstone hills covered with red laterite soil that gives the entire area a reddish brown color.

6. Dwarka

Dwarka, the sacred city of Lord Krishna, is said to have been submerged 6 times in total. Huge pillars, antiques, and massive stone walls are visible under sea. However, it is yet to be confirmed if those belong to the times of Lord Krishna. Carbon dating could trace these recovered ruins only up to 15th century BC.

Ancient Hidden Cities In Central India & South India

7. Sanchi

The town needs no introduction. One of the famous historical places in India, Sanchi is known for its Ashoka pillar and Greco-Buddhist style of stupas that depict various scenes from the Jataka tales and stories of Buddha’s life. The relics of Buddha at the once lost city of India were painted with a Mauryan polish to make them glow like glass.

8. Muziris

A port city on the banks of the Periyar River in Kerala, Muziris is one of the lost ancient Indian cities that have been discovered and excavated. Archaeologists have successfully found artifacts belonging to countries like Egypt, Yemen, Roman, and West Asia.

Location: Kodungallur, Kerala

Established in: 100 BC or before

Abandoned in: 1341 AD

Discovered in: 1945; followed by subsequent major discoveries in 1969, 1983, & 2007

9. Nagarjunakonda

The former capital of Ikshvaku dynasty and Buddhist town, Nagarjunakonda is an island in middle of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Excavations revealed Buddhist ruins, stupas, viharas (monastery complexs), chaityas (temples), and mandapams(pillared pavilions), and multiple white marble depictions of the Buddha’s life.

10. Vijayanagar

The Vijayanagar city is located on south bank of the Tungabhadra River in Bellary District of northern Karnataka. The city was built around the religious center of the Virupaksha temple at the famous UNESCO-listed world heritage site of Hampi. The lost Indian city was home to the Vijayanagar Kingdom that rose to its prime under the rule of Krishnadevaraya. However, some of the remains found here date back to around 300 BC. The city also finds a mention in the Hindu legend of Ramayana as Kishkinda – the realm of the monkey gods.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka

Established in: 1336 AD

Abandoned in: 1565 AD

Discovered in: 1800 AD; by Colonel Colin Mackenzie

Intrigued much? Then you’re surely going to love a visit to these ancient lost cities in India. Wait no more! Plan a holiday in India and visit these amazing destinations.